“Oh, it’s all getting just as bright as day, now. Next you said I warn’t bad , only mischeevous and harum-scarum, and not any more responsible than⁠—than⁠—I think it was a colt, or something.”

“And so it was! Well, goodness gracious! Go on, Tom!”

“And then you began to cry.”

“So I did. So I did. Not the first time, neither. And then⁠—”

“Then Mrs. Harper she began to cry, and said Joe was just the same, and she wished she hadn’t whipped him for taking cream when she’d throwed it out her own self⁠—”

“Tom! The sperrit was upon you! You was a prophesying⁠—that’s what you was doing! Land alive, go on, Tom!”

“Then Sid he said⁠—he said⁠—”